"It does not change the fact that Saudi women are not free to move and to choose," said political analyst Mona Abass in neighboring Bahrain. "The Saudis may use it to boost their image, but it changes little."

Even the two athletes selected to compete under the Saudi flag - 800-meter runner Sarah Attar from Pepperdine University in California and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in judo - live outside the kingdom and carry almost no influence as sports figures. There is no other choice: Women sports remain nearly an underground activity in Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps that will change if Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani wins a Judo medal or Sarah Attar wins one for the 800-meter sprint. Even if they don't win, we hope the cacophony of coverage of these two Olympic pioneers must eventually breaks through the Saudi state media's silence.